THE EvoCity MTB Series is exactly the event mountain biking in the central west, and Orange, has been asking for. Already a burgeoning sport in the region, the EvoCity MTB series - which with Fairfax Media’s support is the most lucrative mountain biking competition in Australia - is set to give the sport unprecedented nation-wide exposure. Orange will host the first leg of the series in February next year, with five of the other six EvoCities - Albury, Bathurst, Dubbo, Tamworth and Wagga Wagga - along with Wylde in western Sydney hosting the rest of the races. “It’s just awesome to get something like this to the region,” Rodney Farrell, vice-president of the Central West Off Road Bike Club said. “It’s great to see such fantastic support for mountain biking, there’s something in it for everyone.” Farrell said the reputation of Orange’s biggest race, the Ginger Ninja, combined with the over $80,000 worth of prize money should see some of the best riders in the nation converge on Kinross State Forest next year. “The Ginger Ninja has had world champions in the past,” Farrell said. “Now that it’s involved with this series I think it’s only going to get bigger. But yes, we can definitely expect a thick, elite field in February next year.” With Orange’s topography and altitude riders foreign to the conditions could potentially struggle, but Farrell said the Kinross State Forest trail has something suited to every rider. “There is a lot of climbing, but there is also good reward for that climbing,” he said. “A lot of people comment on the steep downhill sections, and we have plenty of beautiful trails. There’s plenty here for all the riders, but it’s tough.” Orange mayor John Davis agreed with Farrell, and said Orange’s facilities are one reason the competition is expected to evolve very quickly in future years. “Orange has a challenging series of forest tracks at Kinross and on Mount Canobolas,” Cr Davis said. “Competitive riders love to travel, and I won’t be surprised to see this series continue to grow in future years.”

Evocities MTB Series to attract the best of the best to Kinross State Forest

THE EvoCity MTB Series is exactly the event mountain biking in the central west, and Orange, has been asking for.

Already a burgeoning sport in the region, the EvoCity MTB series - which with Fairfax Media’s support is the most lucrative mountain biking competition in Australia - is set to give the sport unprecedented nation-wide exposure.

Orange will host the first leg of the series in February next year, with five of the other six EvoCities - Albury, Bathurst, Dubbo, Tamworth and Wagga Wagga - along with Wylde in western Sydney hosting the rest of the races.

“It’s just awesome to get something like this to the region,” Rodney Farrell, vice-president of the Central West Off Road Bike Club said.

“It’s great to see such fantastic support for mountain biking, there’s something in it for everyone.”

Farrell said the reputation of Orange’s biggest race, the Ginger Ninja, combined with the over $80,000 worth of prize money should see some of the best riders in the nation converge on Kinross State Forest next year.

“The Ginger Ninja has had world champions in the past,” Farrell said.

“Now that it’s involved with this series I think it’s only going to get bigger. But yes, we can definitely expect a thick, elite field in February next year.”

With Orange’s topography and altitude riders foreign to the conditions could potentially struggle, but Farrell said the Kinross State Forest trail has something suited to every rider.

“There is a lot of climbing, but there is also good reward for that climbing,” he said.

“A lot of people comment on the steep downhill sections, and we have plenty of beautiful trails. There’s plenty here for all the riders, but it’s tough.”

Orange mayor John Davis agreed with Farrell, and said Orange’s facilities are one reason the competition is expected to evolve very quickly in future years.

“Orange has a challenging series of forest tracks at Kinross and on Mount Canobolas,” Cr Davis said.

“Competitive riders love to travel, and I won’t be surprised to see this series continue to grow in future years.”